The Cricket Committee and the Executive Committee of the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) have lifted the ban imposed on Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka.

According to the Sinhalese Sports Club, the ban has been lifted with immediate effect.

The SSC further said that thereby, Danushka Gunathilaka will play in the Major Club Limited Over tournament organized by the SLC.

The International cricket star faced a judge-alone trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney after pleading not guilty to one charge of sexual assault without consent.

The charge relates to an incident on November 2 last year when it is alleged the 32-year-old removed a condom while having sex – known as stealthing – with a woman at her home in Sydney’s east.

Gunathilaka was arrested in the early hours of November 6 at the Hyatt Regency, where the Sri Lankan cricket team was staying at the time for the T20 World Cup.

He was then taken to Day Street Police Station where he answered questions for more than two hours and later detained in Australia for the duration of the trial.

Although initially several charges were filed against the cricketer, including rape, all other charges have been dropped aside from one. 

Issuing the verdict on the single charge against the Sri Lankan cricketer, Judge Sarah Huggett said the cricketer was found not guilty of sexual assault, releasing him from the case. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is not vested with legal powers to remove the temporary ban that was imposed on Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka, Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe told the media. 

Danushka Gunathilaka who was accused of sexual assault during Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign in Australia last year, was found not guilty and released from all charges following a 11-month trial. 

Following his release, Sri Lanka Cricket announced that the Independent Inquiry Committee appointed by the SLC, which was tasked with investigating the impact of the criminal allegations against the cricketer in Australia, has recommended a full lifting of the ban imposed on him in November 2022.

Commenting on the SLC decision, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe told the media that the SLC has no legal right to take such a decision as the matter is connected to ongoing judicial proceedings. 

The Sports Minister said the ban can only be lifted on the recommendations of the National Sports Council, together with the advice of Sri Lanka’s Attorney General, and after presenting facts to the judiciary.

He further slammed the SLC for acting against the laws of the nation, stating, “SLC thinks they are under a different law and not Sri Lanka’s law. It looks like they have filed a case against the investigative reports on the cricketer without looking into the law.” (NewsWire)

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Media Release.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wishes to announce that the Independent Inquiry Committee appointed by SLC,which was tasked with investigating into the impact of the criminal allegations against Mr. Danishka Gunathilaka in Australia, has recommended a full lifting of the ban imposed on him in November 2022 following Mr. Gunathilaka’s acquittal from all charges filed in the District Court of New South Wales and his return to Sri Lanka on 3rd October 2023.

In November 2022, the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket suspended Mr. Danishka Gunathilaka from all cricket activities upon learning of his arrest and charges related to alleged sexual assault in Australia during his travel as a member of the National team for the T20 World Cup 2022. This suspension was pending the outcome of legal proceedings and was imposed considering the impact of his actions on the reputation of cricket and the country.

Mr. Gunathilaka, who was under travel restriction in Australia for the past 11 months, faced a full trial in the District Court of New South Wales, Australia, where he was acquitted of the single charge levelled against him. Other charges under which he was initially arrested were dropped by the Prosecution prior to trial.

After careful evaluation of Mr. Gunathilaka’s exoneration and with due consideration to his cricketing career and its impact on the cricketing ambitions of the nation, the Inquiry Panel, headed by Retired High Court Judge, Sisira Ratnayake, Mr. Niroshana Perera, Attorney at Law and Mr. Asela Rekawa Attorney at Law, unanimously recommended an immediate lifting of his cricketing ban, allowing him to resume regular cricket activities and return to national duty.

The Executive Committee of the SLC, at its meeting held on 13th October 2023, has ratified this recommendation. They have also cautioned Mr. Gunathilaka to always uphold his status as are presentative of the nation in all his future actions.

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Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka, who was recently freed from a sexual assault case in Australia, says he will file a civil case against the Australian State over his case. 

Having arrived in Sri Lanka last night (Oct 03), following an 11-month period facing a trial in Sydney, the cricketer said as per the laws in Australia he cannot file a case seeking compensation from the woman who accused him.

Gunathilaka said, however, that a civil case can be filed against the Australian State, through which he can seek compensation for his legal fee during his trial. 

The Sri Lankan cricketer said he expects to file a civil case against the Australian State soon. 

Expressing regret in missing out on the Asia Cup and World Cup, Gunathilaka said he still has more to give back to the sport of cricket and expects to get back into training soon. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lankan Cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka is set to finally return home from Australia after a period of 11 months after being found not guilty by a Sydney Court on a sexual assault case.

The cricketer who faced a Judge-only trial is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka tonight.

Despite the verdict in the sexual assault case freeing Danushka Gunathilaka of all charges, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is yet to announce its decision on the temporary suspension imposed on the cricketer. 

The SLC had imposed a temporary ban on the cricketer after he was arrested on charges of sexual assault during the T20 World Cup in Australia last year. 

The International cricket star faced a judge-alone trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney after pleading not guilty to one charge of sexual assault without consent.

The charge relates to an incident on November 2 last year when it is alleged the 32-year-old removed a condom while having sex – known as stealthing – with a woman at her home in Sydney’s east.

Gunathilaka was arrested in the early hours of November 6 at the Hyatt Regency, where the Sri Lankan cricket team was staying at the time for the T20 World Cup.

He was then taken to Day Street Police Station where he answered questions for more than two hours and later detained in Australia for the duration of the trial.

Although initially several charges were filed against the cricketer, including rape, all other charges have been dropped aside from one. 

Issuing the verdict on the single charge against the Sri Lankan cricketer, Judge Sarah Huggett said the cricketer was found not guilty of sexual assault.

The Sydney judge said the evidence established there was “no opportunity” for him to have removed a condom during sex, and that he was truthful in his police interview. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka who was accused of sexual assault in Australia has spoken to the media after being found not guilty of the charges by a Sydney Court today. 

Speaking to the media for the first time since being accused of sexual assault, the Sri Lankan cricketer said, “the verdict says everything”. 

“The last eleven months were hard for me. I thank my manager, my lawyers, especially Murugan Thangaraj. I also thank everyone in Australia, my parents and even some from Sri Lanka who helped me. Everyone believed me, which means alot to me,” he said. 

Gunathilaka further said that the Judge has said who has lied and who has not, reiterating that the verdict says everything. 

“I’m happy that my life is normal again. I can’t wait to go back and play cricket,” he added. 

The International cricket star faced a judge-alone trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney after pleading not guilty to one charge of sexual assault without consent.

The charge relates to an incident on November 2 last year when it is alleged the 32-year-old removed a condom while having sex – known as stealthing – with a woman at her home in Sydney’s east.

Gunathilaka was arrested in the early hours of November 6 at the Hyatt Regency, where the Sri Lankan cricket team was staying at the time for the T20 World Cup.

He was then taken to Day Street Police Station where he answered questions for more than two hours and later detained in Australia for the duration of the trial.

Although initially several charges were filed against the cricketer, including rape, all other charges have been dropped aside from one. 

Issuing the verdict on the single charge against the Sri Lankan cricketer, Judge Sarah Huggett said the cricketer was found not guilty of sexual assault.

The Sydney judge said the evidence established there was “no opportunity” for him to have removed a condom during sex, and that he was truthful in his police interview. (NewsWire)

"I'm happy that my life is normal again, so I can't wait to go back and play cricket, I like to thank all those who believed me and supported me" Danushka Gunatilake @danushka_70 pic.twitter.com/9I81ViTw0U

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) September 28, 2023

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The verdict on the case accusing Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka of sexual assault in Australia is due on Thursday (Sep 28).

International cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka is facing a judge-alone trial at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney after pleading not guilty to one charge of sexual assault without consent.

The charge relates to an incident on November 2 last year when it is alleged the 32-year-old removed a condom while having sex – known as stealthing – with a woman at her home in Sydney’s east.

Gunathilaka was arrested in the early hours of November 6 at the Hyatt Regency, where the Sri Lankan cricket team was staying at the time for the T20 World Cup.

He was then taken to Day Street Police Station where he answered questions for more than two hours and later detained in Australia for the duration of the trial.

Although initially several charges were filed against the cricketer, including rape, all other charges have been dropped aside from one. 

Judge Sarah Huggett will hand down her decision tomorrow on the single charge against the cricketer. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka pursued a Tinder date “relentlessly” before an alleged sexual assault, prosecutors have told a Sydney court, as his lawyers insist the woman has created an unsustainable “narrative”.

The 32-year-old pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent and has this week faced a judge-alone trial.

The NSW District Court has heard the pair met up at a bar near the Opera House and went for pizza before she invited the batsman to her eastern suburbs home in November.

The Crown alleges he removed a condom he’d been asked to wear during intercourse without the woman’s knowledge — an act known as “stealthing”.

In a closing address, Crown Prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman told the judge the sexual episode “turned out very differently to what she expected or wanted”.

Ms Steedman said it was rough and the accused did not respect any of the woman’s requests or boundaries, arguing it was “entirely consistent” with someone who would remove his condom despite “her clear wishes to the contrary”.

The prosecutor referred to their pre-date interactions online, including his offer to pay for a flight for her to Brisbane to visit him there, which she declined.

“It is clear there is a mutual flirtation throughout … but the accused was pursuing her quite relentlessly prior to meeting up,” Ms Steedman said.

The prosecutor said in the woman’s bedroom, Mr Gunathilaka engaged in “a negotiation” about protection after a discussion about his preference to not use condoms.

The court has previously heard the woman did not see the cricketer remove the condom but saw it on the floor after he stopped sexual intercourse.

When the complainant testified, she alleged she was choked three times during sex — and that Mr Gunathilaka had previously kissed her “forcefully” and become aggressive on the way home and on the couch.

Today, Ms Steedman said he agreed to initially wear the condom “to appease her” and had “plenty of opportunity” to remove it.

“The fact that she did not see him do it stands to reason, and she says she zoned out during this period because it was so unpleasant,” the Crown said.

In his recorded police interview, the cricketer denied all wrongdoing and told investigators there were two condoms because the first one did not work.

Ms Steedman said the claim of the second condom was “a deliberate mistruth”.

Woman’s story ‘unsustainable in light of evidence’

The cricketer’s defence counsel, Murugan Thangaraj SC, said the woman’s position had “morphed over time”, accusing her of giving untruthful and self-serving evidence on various topics.

“The belief that the condom came off as expressed to police was totally different to the uncertainty she expressed to a number of people,” he said, highlighting her initial conversations with two close friends.

“What she has done is to provide a narrative which has been shaped to fit the allegation.”

“A narrative that is unsustainable in light of the evidence.”

Mr Thangaraj said the woman did not remember matters inconsistent with her narrative.

During their online interactions, Mr Gunathilaka at one point said he was too tired after a game to meet the woman on a different night out, which Mr Thangaraj said was “not entirely consistent with the Crown’s submission he was relentlessly pursuing”.

He highlighted that his client was an international cricketer, questioning why he would risk conduct such as choking which would leave visible injuries.

Mr Thangaraj said the woman created an “aggressive narrative” of what happened in the lead-up to their trip to her house, including claims she was ambushed on her couch.

But he said it would be completely inconsistent with that for her to then invite him into the bedroom and light candles.

Judge Sarah Huggett will hand down her decision next Thursday. (ABC News)

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The judge-alone trial on the case against Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka was taken up before the NSW District Court in Sydney, Australia today (Sep 18).

Gunathilaka has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent and “stealthing”, after being invited to the victim’s eastern Sydney home in November last year.

During the opening address, Crown Prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman told the Court the complainant’s anticipated evidence would be that when the intercourse stopped, the woman saw a condom on the floor.

According to ABC News, Defence barrister Murugan Thangaraj SC told the court the Crown Prosecutor must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused deliberately removed the condom against the complainant’s will.

He said in order to prove that case, Judge Sarah Huggett would need to accept the woman as a credible witness.

Defence barrister Thangaraj said in her first conversations with two friends about the encounter she said she was unsure if Gunathilaka removed the condom, but “had a feeling”.

He said it was only when the woman spoke to police days later that her version “crystallised”.

Defence barrister Thangaraj also told the court his client had cooperated with police, including by giving an interview for more than two hours without a lawyer.

“He categorically denied engaging in penile vaginal intercourse without a condom,” Thangaraj said.

“He also said that because it was the first time the two of them were having sex, he also wanted to use a condom.”

The Defence barrister’s remarks come after the victim told a Sydney court she felt “fearful for her life” as Danushka Gunathilaka allegedly choked her during sex and refused her requests to slow down.

The Crown case is that at some point while they were having sex, the 32-year-old removed a condom he had been asked to wear without the woman’s knowledge or consent.

During an opening address, Crown Prosecutor Gabrielle Steedman told the NSW District Court the alleged act is known as “stealthing”.

The trial heard Gunathilaka and the woman matched on dating app Tinder and the following week he met her at a bar near the Sydney Opera House.

The complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told the court while they were later waiting for a ferry to her house, the cricketer kissed her “quite forcefully”.

She said she felt “slightly tipsy, but fully coherent”, while Gunathilaka did not appear intoxicated.

The complainant said she later asked him “can we please take this slow”, after the cricketer again kissed her “forcefully” in her lounge room.

After they moved to her bedroom, she told him they needed to use a condom because she did not want to get pregnant or catch a sexually transmitted infection.

“He said, ‘don’t worry, I won’t get you pregnant, darling, don’t you trust me, you should trust me’,” the woman told the court.

The complainant gave evidence that after she gave him a condom, Gunathilaka said: “I hate using condoms, I don’t like them, it doesn’t feel good, you should trust me”.

She told the court he put the condom on and started to have intercourse with her in a “forceful” way, including by choking her for 20 to 30 seconds.

“This happened at least three times,” she said.

“I remember the third time that he did so, my breath was really constricted for at least six seconds. I remember his hands stayed on my throat for a further 10 seconds or so.

“I felt fearful for my life at this point.”

The complainant said she asked the cricketer to “slow down” but he did not respond.

The trial is expected to last for three to four days. (NewsWire/ Pic – NCA NewsWire)

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Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka who has been stranded in Australia for more than eight months will be allowed to travel domestically after his bail conditions were eased.

Gunathilaka appeared in Sydney Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday to ask the court for leniency on his bail.

He has previously pleaded not guilty to raping a woman in her Sydney home while he was in the country for the T20 World Cup last year.

The cricketer was arrested and charged in November last year as he prepared to fly home to Sri Lanka with his teammates, and he has since been prevented from leaving the country.

He was granted bail on November 17 with strict conditions that he surrender his passport and not approach any international point of departure.

On Tuesday, the 32-year-old asked the court to vary his bail to allow him to travel within Australia on two occasions this month.

Acting Judge Graeme Henson agreed to allow Gunathilaka to suspend the prohibition on approaching international departure points for four days this week and four days at the end of the month.

He stipulated that the cricketer must notify police at least 48 hours in advance with the duration of his trip, the location, and an itinerary if he plans to travel within Australia.

However, the 32-year-old is still required to report to police three times a week and only allowed to possess one mobile phone.

He is prohibited from using dating sites or apps due to the allegations against him.

Police allege the cricketer matched with a woman on a dating app and chatted with her a number of times online before they met.

The pair had drinks in the city before they went back to the woman’s home in the eastern suburbs of Sydney around 11pm, according to police.

Gunathilaka allegedly ignored the woman’s request to “take it slow” and instead sexually assaulted the 29-year-old woman in her home.

Police allege the cricketer engaged in “forceful” intercourse with the woman during which he choked the woman three times.

The woman told police she was “too afraid to do anything” and she had only consented to sexual intercourse with the cricket star if he agreed to wear a condom.

The woman later found the condom on the floor beside the bed, according to police.

The court was told the sexual assault charge related to “stealthing”, the non-consensual removal of a condom during sex.

He is due to face a judge-alone trial in September. (Perth Now)

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A judge has questioned the “focused” media attention on a Sri Lankan cricket star as he prepares to face a trial over allegations he raped a woman after an international sports event.

Danushka Gunathilaka appeared in Sydney Downing Centre District Court on Monday wearing a crisp white jacket and black pants as he applied for a judge-alone trial.

The cricketer has pleaded not guilty to raping a woman in her Sydney home while he was in the country for the T20 World Cup last year.

The court heard there had been significant media attention on the case since the international athlete was charged in November as he was preparing to fly home with his team.

Mr Gunathilaka has remained in Sydney since that date, waiting for the matter to be dealt with.

Mr Gunathilaka’s lawyer Murugan Thangaraj SC said there were more than 2.2m articles related to the case, but later revised his estimation to “many many articles across many many platforms”.

He argued some of the media coverage was “not entirely benign” and would damage his client’s standing with a potential jury.

Judge Warwick Hunt noted he had concerns about potential prejudice after seeing Mr Gunathilaka’s charges on the front page of a newspaper.

“I thought: ‘How can this man get a fair trial after all this publicity?’,” he said.

“I’m not suggesting it’s been unbalanced. It’s just been focused.”

However, the crown prosecutor argued the risk of prejudicing a jury was limited because the vast majority of the coverage had been straightforward.

“The publicity is not necessarily adverse, it’s just merely reporting the allegations,” she said.

The court was told Mr Gunathilaka was initially charged with three additional charges of sexual intercourse without consent, which were withdrawn in May.

Judge Hunt opined the judgment of some jurors may be clouded by the initial four charges, which may lead them to make assumptions about the cricketer or the alleged victim.

“Those kinds of speculations ahead of a trial only take place in this case because of the publicity,” he said.

“Because there’s been that regrettable legal chronology well reported, I do consider that the level of public media interest in the case may lead to a compromising of the accused’s interests at trial.”

He granted the cricketer’s application for a judge-alone trial, which is estimated to take five days.

Mr Thangaraj also made an simultaneous application to fast-track the trial so his client could return to Sri Lanka as soon as possible if cleared of the sexual assault charge.

He said it was necessary to expedite the proceedings so Mr Gunathilaka could resume his sporting career and to continue to financially support his family.

The court heard the cricketer has been diagnosed with severe clinical depression, which is exacerbated by the ongoing legal proceedings and media coverage.

“I’m persuaded the accused is under some psychological pressure that will continue to grow,” Judge Hunt agreed.

He set the trial down to begin on September 18 after the crown prosecutor lent her “unequivocal” support to expediting the proceedings.

Mr Gunathilaka has been stranded in Australia since he was arrested over the sexual assault allegations last year and told to surrender his passport.

Police allege the cricketer matched with a woman on a dating app and chatted with her a number of times online before they met on November 2.

The pair had drinks in the city before they went back to the woman’s home in the eastern suburbs of Sydney around 11pm, according to police.

Mr Gunathilaka allegedly ignored the woman’s request to “take it slow” and instead sexually assaulted the 29-year-old woman in her own home.

Police allege the cricketer engaged in “forceful” intercourse with the woman during which he choked the woman three times.

The woman told police she was “too afraid to do anything” and she had only consented to sexual intercourse with the cricket star if he agreed to wear a condom.

The woman later found the condom on the floor beside the bed, according to police.

The court was told the sexual assault charge related to “stealthing”, the non-consensual removal of a condom during sex.

“There is no suggestion that there was any lack of consent or that our client was aware of any lack of consent,” Mr Thangaraj told the court on Monday. (The Australian)

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Sri Lankan international cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka wants to avoid placing his fate in the hands of a jury when on trial accused of sexually assaulting a woman while on tour in Sydney for the T20 World Cup.

The 32-year-old is facing one count of sexual intercourse without consent, after the public prosecutor withdrew three other charges earlier this year.

He appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court on Friday where his lawyer asked for an arraignment to be delayed until an application for a judge-alone trial can be lodged.

Crown prosecutors will contest the application at a hearing on July 24.

Police allege the batsman met up with a 29-year-old woman at Sydney’s Opera Bar after matching with her on Tinder in November 2022.

The pair then returned to her home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs before Gunathilaka allegedly choked her and raped her without a condom.

Police allege the cricketer choked her for more than 20 seconds and at one point when she tried to remove his hand he squeezed tighter and “severely restricted her breathing”.

Police said the woman “was fearing for her life and could not get away from the accused” during the incident.

Gunathilaka was arrested in the early hours of November 6 at Sydney’s Hyatt Regency Hotel, shortly before he was scheduled to board a flight home with the rest of the Sri Lankan team. (Perth Now)

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Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka will head to trial to fight the allegation he raped a woman at her home in Sydney last year, according to NCA NewsWire.

Danushka Gunathilaka was charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent before the majority of the charges were withdrawn last month.

The cricketer formally pleaded not guilty to the single remaining charge of rape in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.

He was committed for trial to the District Court at a later date.

Police allege Gunathilaka matched with a woman on a dating app while he was in Sydney for the T20 World Cup last year. He allegedly chatted with the woman a number of times online before they met on November 2.

Police allege the cricketer engaged in “forceful” intercourse with the woman during which he choked the woman three times.

The court was told the remaining sexual assault charge related to “stealthing”, the non-consensual removal of a condom during sex.

Danushka Gunathilaka has been stranded in Australia since he was arrested over the charges last year. The court was told he had surrendered his passport and must report to the police once a day as part of his bail conditions.

A $200,000 surety was also deposited to ensure the Sri Lankan national would attend court when required. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka will push New South Wales’ public prosecutor to pay legal costs after being made to wait another two weeks to submit a plea for rape charges.

The 32-year-old is facing four counts of sexual intercourse without consent while in Sydney for the T20 World Cup.

After matching on Tinder, meeting up for a date and heading back to her home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the complainant alleges the cricketer refused to wear a condom and choked her three times.

A police fact sheet filed with the court said the woman “was fearing for her life and could not get away from the accused” during the November 2022 incident.

The prosecution successfully applied for the adjournment, which will take the hearing beyond the statutory six-month requirement for charge certification, at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.

Appearing at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, Gunathilaka’s lawyer urged the court to block an application by the NSW Director of Public Prosecution to adjourn the matter again.

The prosecutor said a number of challenges had led to another adjournment.

“A statement has been obtained from the complainant that would affect how the Crown proceeds – which will delay the proceedings,” the prosecutor said.

“The representative of the Crown has also recently been unwell.”

Prosecutors in NSW have six months to file charges against a person before the matter can be dismissed.

The court heard the recent adjournment application would push the cricketer’s case outside of that time frame.

Gunathilaka’s lawyer said he would apply to have the case dismissed if another adjournment was applied for.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis said he would grant the most recent application for an adjournment.

“I am of the view that these matters are very serious,” Mr Tsavdaridis said.

“The adjournments date back to November 7, 2022, but they have all seemed necessary.”

Gunathilaka will remain on strict conditional bail before he returns to the same court later this month.

Gunathilaka travelled to Australia with Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup team last year but only played in their first game before being ruled out of the competition with a hamstring tear.

He was arrested in the early hours of November 6 at Sydney’s Hyatt Regency Hotel, shortly before he was scheduled to board a flight home with the rest of the team after they bowed out of the tournament.

Gunathilaka remains on bail ahead of a committal hearing at Downing Centre in Sydney on May 18. (AAP / NCA)

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Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has had his bail conditions relaxed so he can use social media after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman inside her Sydney eastern suburbs home.

According to The Australian, the 32-year-old on Thursday appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court where his solicitor Sara Black applied for his bail to be varied.

He has been charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent and has not yet entered a plea.

Police allege the international cricketer matched with a woman on a dating app and they chatted a number of times before they met on November 2 when the alleged offences occurred. At the time, he was in Australia to play in the T20 World Cup.

Gunathilaka’s application to vary his bail was not opposed by the police prosecution on Thursday morning.

Magistrate Ian Guy deleted conditions that prohibited him from accessing his Facebook and Instagram accounts. He had previously had his bail relaxed so he could use WhatsApp.

He will remain on bail on other conditions including that he is not allowed to use dating apps.

The Sri Lankan national also surrendered his passport and cannot approach any international departure point.

He was also ordered to report to the police every day, abide by a nightly curfew and released on a $200,000 surety.

The court was previously told that he and the woman – who cannot be named – had drinks in the Sydney CBD before they went back to the woman’s home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Police have alleged that the woman agreed to sexual activity only if Gunathilaka wore a condom. The woman told police she later found the condom on the floor beside the bed.

The matter will return to court later this month. (NewsWire)

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